Azamgarh cops solve property dealer’s murder, 2 held

Varanasi: Police on Tuesday claimed to have solved the murder of a 24-year-old property dealer, who was shot dead on May 21, allegedly by the man driving the car in which they were returning home from a wedding ceremony.Mubarakpur police arrested Umashankar Yadav, alias Pintu, and his accomplice, Virendra, alias Bindu Yadav. Azamgarh SP Anil Kumar said Umashankar was arrested from the Sathiyaon Station Road area, while Virendra was nabbed near a temple on the Kodhwa-Achalpar road.Acting on Virendra’s information, police recovered the pistol used in the murder along with cartridges from the bushes.During interrogation, Umashankar allegedly confessed that he had conspired to kill Sushil Kumar over disputes related to land and money.According to police, on May 21, Umashankar informed Sunil, the victim’s brother and a resident of Kodhwa village under Jahanaganj police station limits, that unidentified assailants, along with Pankaj Singh alias Sonu Singh and Avneesh Yadav alias Bablu Yadav, had opened fire on them while they were returning home in a car. Based on his statement, Sunil lodged an FIR naming Pankaj, Avneesh and another unidentified person.However, during the investigation, Mubarakpur police examined call detail records, electronic evidence, forensic findings and the post-mortem report, besides recreating the crime scene, which allegedly exposed Umashankar’s role in the murder. Police said Umashankar revealed that on May 20, Sushil was made to consume excessive liquor before being taken to a deserted stretch, where he was shot in the head. After the murder, the pistol was allegedly handed over to Virendra to conceal it. Police have also invoked relevant sections of the Arms Act in the case.